Cap locking device



Jan. 23, 1934-. E, w rr 1,944,535

CAP LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l llllllll l "H iiii 7/ 1 i I jlllll-lwlll 4..-

gmwnto'o ZZZ! Jan. 23, 1934 E. E. WHITE 1,944,535

CAP LOCKING'DEVICE Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 23, 1934. E. E. WHITE 1,944,535

CAP LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 266 1 I a Z0 b MH- F M mull- 27 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cap locking devices, and more especially to novel devices for locking the cap of the fuel tank of an automobile or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to furnish a structure including two principal mem bers, one a stationary part to be positively secured to a filling tube, and the other a movable part forming a cap for such tube; these members being so combined that they may be used as an accessory, or may form part of the original equipment of the automobile when the latter is manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of this kind, which cannot be removed by an unauthorized person when the cap is locked, without rupturing the filling tube, so that the device will function as a theft preventing means. In this connection, it will be noted that if a motor vehicle equipped with my device is stolen, the thief cannot refill the fuel tank without breaking the filling tubezof the latter, and obviously, a filling tube so ruptured, will indicate that the car has been stolen.

If a device of this kind forms part of the original equipment of a motor vehicle, some operators will prefer not to be bothered with using a key to unlock the cap, and for users of this sort, my structure is provided with an auxiliary latch which will hold the cap in place without locking the same, and which may be operated manually to release the cap. Therefore, another object of the invention is to furnish a combination of the character mentioned, including a key operated lock, and a manually actuated latch, either one of which may be used to secure the cap in closed position.

With the foregoing objects outlined and'with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and

Figs.- 3 and 4 are front and rear elevations respectively of the device.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views of portions of spring latches which may form part of the structure.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but illustrating a, modification.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional View of a detail on the line 12-12 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are side, rear and front elevations respectively of the embodiment shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. '17 is a vertical sectional view of a detail on the line 171'7 of Fig. 13.

Referring first tothe form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 20 indicates the tube engaging member, and 21 the cap member of the combination. These members are made 'of metal and the member 20 comprises a collar 22 which may be split as at 23, to allow the same to embrace the filling tube or neck 24 of the fuel 'tank or the like. The collar is to be permanently secured to the tube by means which will require rupturing of the tube if an attempt is made to remove the collar by an unauthorized person when the cap member is locked. For example, the collar may be secured to the tube by welding or brazing, or may be attached by means of rivets or bolts 25.

Ears 26 at one side of the collar are secured by a hinged rivet 27 to a lug 28 which depends from and forms part of the cap member; the opposite side of the collar being projected radially and enlarged to provide a lug 29. This lug houses any suitable key operated lock 30 which 'is secured in place, for example, by a screw 31, which is inserted from the upper surface of the lug.

The lock actuates a retractible bolt 32 that is designed to enter an aperture 33 in a tongue 34 which is rigidly united with, and forms part of the cap member. The latter also includes a projecting cover plate 35, which prevents access to the screw 31 when the cap is locked, and which is also provided with a vertical slot 36 to receive a spring latch 3'7 that may be secured to the lug 29 by means of screws 38. The latch may have a solid nose 39 at its upper end, as shown in Fig. 6, or the nose 39 may be struck from the metal to which the latch is formed, as indicated in Fig. 7. As is usual in latches of this character, when in one position, it will prevent movement of a part, but when in another position, will release such part. In the present construction, the latch is cap. By passing the latch through a slot in the cover plate 35, the latch will be prevented from moving outwardly so far as to become inoperative.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when a device of this character is attached to the filling tube of a fuel tank, the operator, if he prefers, can lock the cap by means of the key operated lock 30, but in case this is not desired, he may employ the latch 37 to hold the cap in position. Consequently, one who purchases a motor vehicle with such a cap, need not use the key operated lock unless he so desires.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the filling tube engaging member is shown at 20c, and the cap member at 21c. Here, the first member also includes a collar 22a that is split, as shown at 23c, and secured to the filling tube 2e 0, by any suitable means such as the rivets 25a. Like in the first embodiment of the invention, the collar is integral with ears 26a which support the hinged rivet 27a which secures the lug 28a of the cap member to the collar. As a further insurance against removing the cap in this structure, the heads of the hinge rivet are counter-sunk into the ears, as indicated at 26am, so as to prevent the head of the rivet from being sawed oiT. Furthermore, the lower end of the lug 28a is recessed at opposite sides, as shown at 28m, and this provides overhanging outside shoulders which are arranged about the upper and outer portions of the ears 2660, so as to prevent the pivot pin being reached from the outer side or from above. In addition, the ears are extended rearwardly and turned toward one another, as shown at 261/, to prevent the hinged rivet from being reached from below.

Like in the first form of the invention, here also the collar is integral with a lug 29a which houses a key operated lock 30a, but in this embodiment, the lock is similar to a night latch, so that it may be operated either by its projecting knob 30m, or by a key 303/. Such a lock will have two buttons 51 and 52 which project upwardly from the lock, and may be reached by the operator when the cap is opened, whereby when the push button 51 is depressed, the lock may be opened by the external knob 30x, but when the other push button is in depressed position, the lock can only be opened by the key 30y. It will therefore be seen that this construction also permits the operator to open the cap either by turning the knob 30:0, or using the key 30y, as he prefers.

I-Iere also the lock actuates a bolt 32a which enters an opening 33a in a tongue 34a. which depends from, and is integral with the cap member. It is intended in this modification that the bolt 32a be spring pressed, so that it will automatically latch when the cap is closed, regardless of the positions of the buttons 51, 52.

The tongue also carries a cover plate 35a which, when the device is locked by the means requiring a key, prevents an unauthorized person from reaching the buttons 51, 52, or the screw 31a that is employed to secure the lock in its housing.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive, the filling tube embracing member 202) is secured to the tube by any suitable means, such as those heretofore described, and the ears 26b of this structure have counter-sinks 260 to house the heads of the hinge rivet 27b to prevent such heads from being removed by the use of a saw. The remainder of this hinged structure is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, but in this form of the invention, in-

stead of placing the projecting lug 29b on the collar, I rigidly unite the same with the cap member 212). Here the lug houses a key operated lock 3021 which actuates a bolt 322). This bolt cooperates with an apertured tongue 34b that extends upwardly from, and is integral with a cover plate 351) which extends across the lower face oi the lug, and is rigidly united with the collar. If a screw is used to secure the lock in place, the plate 351) can hide the head of this screw'to prevent the same from being reached by an unauthorized person.

Like in the first form of the invention, this embodiment includes a spring latch 37b which is secured to the lug 291) by means of screws 38b, and it has a nose 39b which cooperates with a slot 36b in the cover plate. Obviously, if the member 30b is unlocked, the operator can release the cap by simply forcing the nose 3% outwardly to the position where it can pass through the slot 362) when the cap is raised.

From the above it will be understood that the present invention may be applied as an accessory, or may form part of the equipment of a motor vehicle when the latter is manufactured, and if an operator prefers, he can secure the cap in position simply by the manually operated means, but on the other hand, if one wishes to use the cap to prevent the theft of motor fuel, and to serve as an indicator in case the car is stolen, he can lock the cap and use the key to release the same.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be preferred embodiments of the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character describe-d, a filling tube engaging member, a cap member, means pivotally connecting said members, a lug carried by one member and having a recess, a cover plate carried by the other member and 120 adapted to cover the recessed face of the lug, a lock housed in the lug and provided with a bolt, and a tongue projecting from the cover plate and adapted to enter said recess and engageable with the bolt.

2. In a structure or the character described, a filling tube engaging member consisting of a split ring having radially extending lugs at the point where the split is located, a cap member having a lug positioned between the first mentioned lugs, means pivotally connecting all of said lugs, a special lug carried by one of said members and positioned diametrically opposite the other lugs, a cover plate carried by the other one of said members and engaging one surface of the special lug, a lock housed in the special lug and provided with a bolt, and a tongue projecting from the cover plate and engageable with said bolt.

3. In a structure of the character described, a filling tube engaging member, a cap member, means pivotally connecting said members, a lug carried by one member, a cover plate carried by the other member and concealing a portion of the lug, a lock housed in the lug and provided .345 with a bolt, a screw holding the lock in the lug and having its head concealed by said cover plate, and a tongue projecting from the cover plate and engageable with said bolt.

EDWIN ELLIS WHITE; 1150 

